Locking means for photo slide case



Sept. 29, 1959 R. P. MAGNE'NAT 7 2,906,579

LOCKING MEANSFOR PHOTO SLIDE CASE Filed Feb. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a FSIVENTOR [6 /6 m "44 ATTORNEYS P 1959 R. P. MAGN-ENAT 2,906,579

LOCKING MEANS FOR PHOTO SLIDE CASE Filed Feb. 18, 1955 2 sheets sheet 2 EIPNVENTOR BY Z"""" ATTORNEY! v United States Patent 2,906,579 7 LOCKING MEANS FOR PHOTO SLIDE CASE Rene P. Magnenat, Naugatuck, Conn., assignor to Waterbury Companies, Inc., Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 18, 1955, Serial No. 439,222 2 Claims. 01. 312-309 This invention relates to locking means for a'case for receiving and holding photographic slides or the like.

The object of my invention is to provide an article of thistype provided with at least one slidable member which may be releasably locked in normally closed position.

A further object is to provide an article of the character described in which a cover is adapted to be releasable locked in its closed position by its cooperation with a member, or members, carried by the case body.

Another object is to provide such a receptacle in which a drawer may be releasably locked in closed position by the cooperation of elements carried thereby with a fixture or fixtures on the case body.

Another object is to provide a case in which at least one slidable member may be locked to the case body, in closed position, by the cooperation of certain sections of predetermined configuration of the member, or box, with a resilient element, or elements, carried by the case body, or slidable member, all of said sections and resilient elements being formed integral with a member or case body.

A still further object is to provide an article of the character described which is adapted for manufacture in quantity from plastic or other suitable material in which the above and other objects may effectively be attained as will hereinafter appear.

Broadly, my invention comprises a photo slide case provided with means formed integral therewith for automatically locking its slidable members, or member, in closed position.

A practical embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents, in perspective, a complete article with its cover and drawer in closed locked position;

Fig. 2 represents, in perspective, and on an enlarged scale, the article shown in Fig. l; with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 3 represents, in front elevation, the case body with slidable cover and drawer removed;

Fig. 4 represents, in front elevation, the slidable drawer;

Fig. 5 represents, in front elevation, the slidable cover.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation, in front elevation, of a portion of the case body and cover illustrating, in exaggerated form, the distortion of the posts for unlocking the cover from the body; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the position of one post with respect to the cover as seen in a plan view of Fig. 6, when the cover is unlocked from the body.

Referring to the drawings, a cover 1, provided with a handle 2, is slidably mounted on the case body 3. Depending sections 4 and 5 of cover 1 terminate at their lower ends in a tongue and groove, denoted by 6 and 7, which fit a tongue 8 extending longitudinally of the case body 3 so the cover may be slid therealong to expose the inner cavity of said body.

At least one end of the top of the cover is furnished with upwardly extending recesses 9 and 10, formed in the cover and adapted to receive the upper ends of posts W 2,906,579 Patented Sept. 2 9 1959 11, and 12, said posts being formed integral with the from the case body 3. It will also be noted that posts 11 and 12 have their upper ends so shaped that when the posts are in their normal upright position the said ends engage the recesses in the cover so as to prevent movement of same with respect to the body. The relative'positions of the tops of the posts and the recesses of the cover are illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 which also show the shape of recesses 9 and 10 permitting the engagement and disengagement of the parts described as fol lows: The construction of posts 11 and 12 permits them to be sprung toward each other at their upper ends by applying pressure thereto as by placing the fingers on the outermost edges and squeezing the posts sufiiciently to disengage therefrom their respective recesses. When the cover 1 is slid longitudinally so that recesses 9 and 10 contact the post ends, the latter are slightly distorted from their normal position into said recesses by the camming action of said recesses on the shaped upper ends of the posts as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, recess 9, the interior plan of which is shown in dotted outline, rides across and over the end of post 11 which assumes the dotted position of Fig.6 and then, as the shape of the said recess permits, regains its normal upright position as said top of post 11 seats in the L-shaped recess. It will be understood that the structure is flexible and that each post cooperates similarly with its recess adapted to receive same.

In the particular embodiment shown in the drawings, the lower section of the case body 3 is formed to receive therein a slidable drawer 15, provided with longitudinal extensions 16, 17 adapted to be received in the channels 18, 19 of body 3, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The slidable drawer is provided on its front face with bendable posts 20, 21, slotted at 22, 23 and so located that their upper ends are received in recesses 24, 25 of a shelf 26 formed integral with the face of case body 3 when the drawer is in its closed position with respect to the body. The drawer 15 may be unlocked by urging the posts towardeach other, at their tops, in a manner, and with a result, similar to that described above with reference to posts 11 and 12 (shown in Figs. 6 and 7). Posts 20, 21 are slightly spaced at their upper ends from the drawer front by slots 22, 23 which gives a desired flexibility thereto.

Normally, the entire structure is made of a plastic having enough resiliency to accomplish the locking and unlocking herein described, but it is obvious that the invention may be carried out through the use of other materials, including metal and/or wood, having the required characteristics.

While I have shown only one embodiment of my invention it is readily apparent that a single post and recess, either one being carried by the body and the other by the slidable member, as long as they are so located as to be brought into operative engagement, will, at that point, cooperate to lock the slidable member to the sta- What I claim is:

1. An article of the character described comprising, in combination, a hollow body, longitudinal elements located along opposite sides'of said body, at least one longitudinal slidable member supported on said body and said longitudinal elements, and means for locking said slidable member to the body, said locking means comprising said longitudinal elements and a plurality of resilient posts mounted at one end of the body, exterior tapered upper ends on said posts, and recessed portions in said slidable member for receiving said tapered ends when slid thereover, whereby said member and the body are lockedv together.

2. An article of the character described comprising, in combination, a hollow body, one member slidably mounted on said body, another member slidably mounted in said body, longitudinal elements carried by said body for slidably supporting both said members and means for locking both members to the body, said locking means including said longitudinal elements and a plurality of resilient posts mounted on said body and second slidable member, tapered ends on each post, and recessed portions on said first named member and said body, for receiving said tapered post ends when brought into engagement therewith whereby the members and body are locked together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 220,119 Boyd Sept. 30, 1879 316,412 Stevens Apr. 21, 1885 320,814 Pollard June 23, 1885 362,926 Benninghaus May 17, 1887 506,064 Nowland Oct. 3, 1893 545,176 Ruebekam Aug. 27, 1895 2,288,637 Mauro July 7, 1942 2,328,532 Waechter Aug. 31,1943 2,531,737 Lyon Nov. 28, 1950 20 2,663,457 Shafier Dec. 22, 1953 2,807,387 Siciliano Sept. 24, 1957 

